INTERPOL Arrests 1,462 Suspects, Disrupts 10,909 Malicious Networks in Cybercrime Crackdown

The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has arrested 1,462 suspects, disrupted 10,909 malicious networks and recovered $105 million in illicit funds during a two-month international crackdown on cybercrime.

The operation, codenamed Operation Serengeti III, ran from June 29 to August 31, 2026, with law enforcement agencies from 21 countries participating in efforts to dismantle criminal networks and recover proceeds of cybercrime.

In Nigeria, authorities arrested a suspect allegedly linked to phishing and business email compromise operations that harvested software credentials and amassed approximately 2.1 million email addresses.

Investigators also recovered a luxury vehicle suspected to have been purchased with proceeds of crime.

Another investigation uncovered an international investment fraud scheme promoted through messaging applications. Investigators traced more than $2.4 million in suspected criminal proceeds, much of which was allegedly laundered through cryptocurrency transactions.

In Uganda, authorities dismantled two fraud rings and arrested 365 foreign nationals allegedly linked to online investment and pension fraud schemes targeting victims across Asia.

In Angola, investigators dismantled two illegal cryptocurrency mining centres, arrested nine suspects and seized more than 2,000 mining devices and six illegal power transformation stations valued at over $1 million.

The crackdown also targeted a fraudulent mobile loan application scheme in Tanzania, a vehicle import fraud network in Gabon and cybercrime suspects in the Republic of Congo.

INTERPOL’s Director of Cybercrime, Neal Jetton, said the operation demonstrated the importance of international cooperation in tackling increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.

“Operation Serengeti III reinforces a clear message: while cybercrime is increasingly borderless, international cooperation remains one of the most effective tools for disrupting criminal networks, recovering criminal assets and protecting communities from digital harm,” Jetton said.

The 21 participating countries were Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, The Gambia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, the United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Republic of Congo.